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Picture exclusive: The wreck of Wahine

Image 1 of 20: the wreck of the Wahine, taken in the days after she sunk in Wellington Harbour with the loss of 53 lives Photograph by Tom Palaskas, supplied to the New Zealand Herald ONE USE ONLY - MANDATO Image 2 of 20: B Deck promenade facing forward. The heavy weather-proof solid teak doors open to the main foyer with access to the ship's shop on the left and B Deck smokeroom on right. Photo / Tom Palaskas Image 3 of 20: Photo / Tom Palaskas Image 4 of 20: C Deck promenade facing forward. The manila rope ladders were washed back on the vessel by the force of the waves. Photo / Tom Palaskas Image 5 of 20: B Deck facing aft. When the order was given to abandon ship, the vessel had such a severe list to starboard that none of the port side lifeboats could be launched. They sit firmly secured on their davits. Photo / Tom Palaskas Image 6 of 20: Photo / Tom Palaskas Image 7 of 20: Lifeboats P1 (right) and P2 (left) secure in their davits. Photo / Tom Palaskas Image 8 of 20: Wahine, two days after the sinking. The remnants of the cyclone still fill the sky. The VHS radio-telephone antenna on the roof of the bridge is now silent. Photo / Tom Palaskas Image 9 of 20: Photo / Tom Palaskas Image 10 of 20: Photo / Tom Palaskas Image 11 of 20: D Deck smokeroom with floating objects and furniture. A soaked curtain now lies horizontally, supported by its tieback. Photo / Tom Palaskas Image 12 of 20: Photo / Tom Palaskas Image 13 of 20: Photo / Tom Palaskas Image 14 of 20: B Deck smokeroom with a shredded life jacket and a baby's bottle, still with milk inside, floating among tables and other objects. Photo / Tom Palaskas Image 15 of 20: The Wahine with a large oil slick seeping out of her to be carried away by the outgoing tide. Photo / Tom Palaskas Image 16 of 20: A Deck: One of several single-berth cabins for the Wahine's engineers. A glass tumbler, books, upturned drawers and a can of shoe polish float gently from side to side and nudge each other in the swell of the oily water. Photo / Tom Palaskas Image 17 of 20: Lifeboat P4 still secure in its davits. Fuel oil covers the deck and superstructure. Photo / Tom Palaskas Image 18 of 20: Photo / Tom Palaskas Image 19 of 20: The Wahine at rest. Photo / Tom Palaskas Image 20 of 20: Photo / Tom Palaskas

Image 1 of 20: the wreck of the Wahine, taken in the days after she sunk in Wellington Harbour with the loss of 53 lives Photograph by Tom Palaskas, supplied to the New Zealand Herald ONE USE ONLY - MANDATO